Dorothy's test results..

Yeah, I know, it'd be much nicer if I could just post this in the Cat Lounge instead of here, because that would mean she's in perfect shape with no giardia!

However... she has giardia. The vet and I discussed pills vs. liquid, metro vs. panacur, and I decided to go with the Panacur, because it's 3 days instead of 10. We'll treat both Dorothy and Genever to be safe.

I usually use Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Ultra Litter because it's much less dusty, but I think I'll pick up a few boxes of something cheaper while we go through this, so I don't have to waste the good litter on the mega scooping/changing I'll be doing.

ALSO... she's hyperthyrtoid and has lightly elevated liver levels. I forgot to ask what the liver thing means. I will when I pick up meds and a copy of her lab results this afternoon. As for the HT, she thinks she's probably closer to 10 years old than 5, but maybe not that old. (she has good teeth!) Also it seems to be in the beginning stages. If you saw any pics I posted, you can see she hasn't had any of the classic weight loss associated with HT. She also doesn't scarf down every bit of food in the house (despite her round middle). But the excessive drinking plus night meowing made me suspect HT.

So I will start learning all about hyperthyroid cats, and I guess in the meantime hope for the best, that the pills will regulate her and she'll be a-ok.

While I am pretty bummed about all this right now, I guess in a way I'm glad we got her instead of someone else taking her. Other people might get the HT results and decide not to deal with it, or decide to take her back to the shelter. BF and I will take care of her and love her, she is just such a sweetheart.

So I guess I'll post some lab numbers when I get them, and see what any of you have to say about it. We could use some get well support and vibes and all that good stuff too if you can spare any. Thanks!

Umm...Dorothy? When did you get Dorothy? I guess I missed something here (I've been gone quite abit lately with my mother being in the hospital and all!)

Anyway, sorry to hear this. Hopefully the course of meds will take care of her issue quickly, and keep Genever from actually contracting it too!

I must have missed something too, I didn't hear about your mom. Sorry to hear she's in the hospital.

Yeah, I fell in love with a cat at the SPCA last Thursday, she was about 1 and was there for a month. Then on Friday when I went back with BF, she was already adopted! So we checked out the others, and decided we had to take home 'Sara Sue', who was older and had been there since May. She's a love bug purr machine!

When we brought her home: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=226614

And there's a photo thread too, which I'll have to add to soon: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=226621

Aw hun, I'm so sorry! I hope three days of panacur does the trick on the giardia (we always wound up doing 10 days).

As to the rest... I don't anything about HT and/or liver function, but bless you for keeping her and caring for her!

for all of you, especially Dorothy.

I'm glad you got Dorothy, too, and so is she.

This is kind of disappointing, I'm sure. But she needs you.

And it's all treatable, I believe.

Shelters very often estimate cats at 5 years when they really don't know. After they are about age 2, it is hard to tell until they are really old, have some kind of surgery that opens them up, or start having some illnesses that are usually age related. The confusion about the age has happened to me with cats I've adopted. It happens all the time, unfortunately.

But, she has a lot of good years left!


Robin

Sorry to hear that Dot's got giardia and she's HT, BUT it's all treatable and you'll be so good for her!

I am so sorry. I pray that he giardia is treated quickly and easily and does not ever affect Genever.

My 14 year old cat, Blue is HT and once he started the meds, we saw a huge difference. He is doing great. We just have to do blood work every so often to make the sure the methimazole is not affecting other areas of his body negatively.

Oh hun, is Dorothy ever lucky she has you guys! Sending lots of vibes her way!

I'm sorry Dorothy is having so many problems!

Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens

(I've been gone quite abit lately with my mother being in the hospital and all

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I'm sorry your mother is sick, hope she gets out of the hospital soon.

Originally Posted by bastetservant

I'm glad you got Dorothy, too, and so is she.

This is kind of disappointing, I'm sure. But she needs you.

And it's all treatable, I believe.

Shelters very often estimate cats at 5 years when they really don't know. After they are about age 2, it is hard to tell until they are really old, have some kind of surgery that opens them up, or start having some illnesses that are usually age related. The confusion about the age has happened to me with cats I've adopted. It happens all the time, unfortunately.

But, she has a lot of good years left!


Robin

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That's interesting about the age estimate. I never heard of that before. Now that you mention it, though, when I catnapped the neighbor cat Mister and took him to the vet after Thanksgiving to get scanned for a microchip (he didn't have one), and then got him checked out, the vet said he's probably at least 5, but she said that was due to his mouth/teeth. She didn't say he looked 7, or 10, or whatever, just 'at least 5'. That vet wasn't our regular one.

My vet didn't even really question Dororthy's age of 5, until I mentioned the excessive drinking and night meowing. Then she took another look at her, said her teeth are really good so it'd be hard to really know if she's older just by looking, and checked out her eyes. I guess cats' eyes change with age somehow. Oh well, it's definitely not a big deal. We already have puke-master Genever, and I have some stupid health issues, so we may as well have another 'defective' family member. (I am joking, of course. My babies are too awesome and loveable! ) She doesn't act like an old cat- she plays, she jumps higher than Genever (which we found out around 4AM. sigh.), and she was going nuts watching birds in the yard this morning, making the craziest, cutest chirpy meows!

I just hope her thyroid is the only major issue she has, I want her to be well!

Awwwww. Sending vibes for sweet Dot! She's sure lucky to have you!!

Thanks. We will do whatever we can to make her happy and healthy. She is such a sweetie. I can't wait til she adjusts to our sleeping schedule though, and gets the thyroid regulated so she's quieter at night. It's funny, if her meows wake up BF, he kind of half sleep-talks in a sweet voice to tell her to be quiet. Me, I kind of just tell her to shut up. Not yelling or in a mean tone, but.. I'm so tired!